Kittleman said he toured the historic county seat after the flash flood receded and was "heartbroken" by seeing it so severely damaged again since the flooding of 2016.

Kittleman said he considers the damage worse than the flooding two summers ago. But he says: "We will be there for them as we were in 2016".

Mr. Miller said Sunday's rain started around 2:45 p.m. and had not yet subsided as of around 6:30 p.m. I do encourage everybody to stay away from Ellicott City, if you're not there. Just to the south of Ellicott City, radar indicated as much as 7 to 8 inches had fallen - which is an incredible amount of rain in such a short amount of time. Another round of rain is expected Sunday evening, and conditions are rapidly changing, officials said.

The nonprofit Ellicott City Partnership set up a website, HelpEllicottCity.com, to accept donations for businesses, residents and property owners. Hogan signed an executive order, directing Maryland Department of Emergency Management and other state agencies to provide support. He said they are facing a similar emergency now.

Jessica Ur, a server at Pure Wine Cafe on the city's Main Street, told the paper she watched as gushing waters swept three or four parked cars down the street.

Portalli's Italian Restaurant employee Arianna Wilgar said the water had reached the establishment's second floor.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency after the state was pounded with heavy rain. But information was still preliminary.

Heavy flooding has been reported on Main Street-that's the same street where flash flooding turned the street into a deadly river in July 2016.

WBAL's Bill Vanko lives in the area, and he saw the flooding up close and personal. Floodwaters surged around cars and pickup trucks. The agency added that water had risen above the first floor of buildings in some areas and that it had received reports of building collapses.

Multiple area fire and rescue crews, including Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, have been working to help people stranded in their homes in the area.

Of course, we have rescue folks in Ellicott City now. "This was a true flash flood".

The National Weather Service said a flash flood warning has been issued for the area through Sundya evening, calling it an "extremely unsafe situation" and urging motorists not to attempt to navigate flooded roads.

Mr Hogan warned people to take "extreme caution" and "avoid travelling if possible".